What if you could get paid every time you enter a store for your regular shopping trip? Whether you’re tending to your weekly grocery list, buying a new outfit for an event, gassing up the car, or even placing an order for your favorite morning coffee drink, you could be earning money in the course of your regular daily activities. And while you might automatically assume that this is a secret shopper scam, it’s actually an authentic opportunity to earn a few bucks at some of the many retail locations you frequent. Here’s how it works.

The application (for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch) is called EasyShift and it was developed for Quri, a company that works to collect data for companies that place their goods at retail locations across the country and in some cases, the globe. The services they offer include checking vendors to make sure that items are stocked on store shelves, the prices are visible, and that promotional items are properly displayed. They will even give side-by-side comparisons of competitor products and prices to their clients. But how does Quri compile all of this information to verify that retailers are doing their part to sell a manufacturer’s wares as per contractual agreements?

With the EasyShift app, they’ll soon be doing it with the help of crowdsourcing. In truth, the app is fairly simple in conception. Shoppers that download the app gain access to a listing of “shifts”, which are tasks. Each shift requires the participating user to go to a specific retail site and send in photos (and information) about certain displays. Brands wishing to remain anonymous might ask for photos of an entire display containing rice, milk, or hand lotions, such as. The nice thing for people who hate the hassles involved with secret shopping is that there is no purchase required. You simply have to pursue displays and send in photos, comments, or other required information.

Each shift will come with specific instructions, as well as payment information that includes a dollar amount offered for the task (say $5) and a points amount. The money will be deposited into your attached PayPal account once the shift is completed. But the points will go towards a leaderboard that allows you to see how you match up against other shoppers using EasyShift. This feature is likely meant to drive competition, although it may also be used to decide which shoppers are quick and reliable, potentially resulting in access to higher-paying shifts.

Best of all, this app is totally easy to use. When you’re heading out for your daily errands, you just open it up and see if there are any opportunities in your area. If you’re lucky you’ll find a couple at the stores you had already planned to visit. Otherwise you can earn a few extra dollars by popping over to a nearby location along your route. Whether you’re snapping pics of stacks of macaroni, store signage attached to a shelf full of laundry detergent, or the prices listed for several brands of yogurt, you could be getting paid for doing little more than walking up and down the aisles at your local grocery store (which you’d be doing anyway while you shop). In short, this app is a great way for consumers to make a little money on the side, and for businesses looking to check up on their retail displays the information provided is invaluable.

Editor’s Note

Thanks to Evan Fischer for this guest post. He is a freelance writer and part-time student at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, California.